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which rose to gift

ShennyShenny Posts: 127
in Problem solving
Hi
I want to gift a rose plant to a my sons new girlfriends mother! who has a big garden but does not really garden! I would love to inspire her to start. She would probably keep this rose in a pot to start and maybe plant in the garden at a future date. I myself only have David Austen climbing roses in my garden which I adore, but the blooms can be quite heavy and floppy.
I really value your opinions so please could you suggest a First Rose gift, to make a good impression but will be easy to look after and preferably have a good fragrance? I guess it does not even have to be a rose if anyone has better suggestions. Many thanks

Posts

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Buying plants for somebody else is always risky.  Something you love could leave the recipient cold.  Buying a plant in the hope that it will inspire somebody who doesn't garden to start is, in my opinion, unlikely to succeed.  It may get potted up and then forgotten about by next year.
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    I don't know how anyone can not like the gift of a plant. I take @KT53 point that a plant won't start a garden, but a gift is a gift. A composition of different sempervirens can be "forgotten" for years.


    Luxembourg
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    Sorry message posted before I could finish.
    I meant to say that sempervirens are easy, even if she doesn't garden she will have a job to kill them. Invite her to your garden and let her admire your roses and the conversation can start.

    Luxembourg
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I love roses, have around 65 at last count. But, I’ve come to the conclusion they are a poor gift and possibly resented, unless the recipient already grows roses and understands their needs.. or at least has a keen interest in gardening and knows the basics of how to look after plants.

    Every time I visit my neighbour (who is interested in gardening!) I see the ‘easy going, easy grow’ rose I gave her looking dehydrated, diseased, defoliated and miserable with the odd stingy bloom - a mere shadow of the identical one I have in my garden - I cringe and wish I’d given her something else. This was despite me providing it already potted in a suitably large pot, in a decent potting mix with slow-release rose food added… and giving her detailed care and watering instructions plus a supply of rose food for the future.

    As the girlfriend is new and presumably too your acquaintance with her mother, I think a bouquet of lovely fragrant roses and perennials would be safer. Perhaps even picked from your own garden. If she expresses an interest then take it from there.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • ShennyShenny Posts: 127
    Thank you. I think that is sound advice. I think I just got a bit excited, not wanting anyone to miss out on enjoying the sight of roses in the sunshine!. You are correct, I see many neglected rose plants in front gardens ( as well as many beautiful ones) around where I live and my heart sinks. You have given me sensible advice. Many thanks. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Late to the party, but I agree with the general consensus. Non-gardeners generally prefer a bunch of flowers or a bottle of something or chocolates, cake etc. Better to stick with cut flowers until you know their preferences (dietary and otherwise). Stick to something that they'll know what to do with and not feel intimidated about.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    I agree with Nollie. I would say, having gifted dozens of roses, that roses are not the way to encourage people to start gardening. Most of the roses I have given died, because they do take particular care (even though people say they are "easy". I don't agree). When roses die the newbies get disheartened and often embarrassed that they killed something you took time to pick out. I think now that I would never encourage / push anyone into gardening. If they find the love and curiosity themselves, all well and good. The longer I do it, the more I think it is like a 'bug'. If you don't have it, it's very hard to communicate or explain.

    There are no "zero care" plants - gardening is a long term act of paying attention and can come to feel like a burden if you aren't loving it (and sometimes even if you are). Maybe if you invite her into your spaces and see how excited you get and if she knows she has support and help if she wants to get into it, that might inspire her.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    You’re welcome. It is really hard to resist the urge to share and encourage your love of gardening, roses or anything else really but best to resist imposing any sort of obligation by way of a gift. Whether that be caring for a plant or feeling you actually have to use that dratted month’s trial membership of the local golf club 😆 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    I agree that it is very difficult to gift a rose due to personal preferences etc. The only time I have done it is to mark an occasion or, in one instance, help someone in a time of great tragedy. The recipient suffering the tragedy said the rose gift helped her some much (I sent a named rose). So a rose gift can certainly have a place but I wouldn’t get one as a generic gift to go in the garden. 
  • ShennyShenny Posts: 127
    Lots of words of wisdom. Thank you all. 🥰
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